The Cooks Company is active in the City of London with the Master undertaking many civic engagements in his year of office. Our members vote in the annual election of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs at Common Hall and we join the other Livery Companies at the United Guilds Service in St Paul’s Cathedral, a celebration of the City’s Guilds that originated during the dark days of World War Two.
Tradition and Fellowship
We are proud to be one of the ‘Associated Companies’ with the Mercers, Masons and Broderers; an informal alliance that dates back to the 17th century, based on fellowship, trust and mutual ventures.
Of the many inter-Livery sporting events, we regularly field teams for three of them: the annual golf tournament competing for the Prince Arthur Cup (if and when we qualify); the annual clay-pigeon shoot in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Charity (we award our ‘top gun’ the Cooks’ Messent Trophy); and, the not-to-be-missed Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race at Guildhall Yard.
Food Research and Debate
Food policy affects us all. Not just what we eat, but the impact on our health, our jobs, and our environment, now and in the future. The Cooks is one of the seven ‘food-associated’ Livery Companies that organise the annual City Food Lecture at the Guildhall. The lecture is delivered by a leading figure in the food industry followed by a panel discussion.
The City University of London Centre for Food Policy is one of the few places in the world dedicated to studying and influencing food policy and the Company has actively supported its work since its inception. We are represented on City University’s Court and we sponsor the internationally-renowned annual City Food Policy Symposium and research projects on food education.
The Armed Forces
Like many Livery Companies, we have strong links with the Armed Forces. We are associated with and actively support the Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan and its crew, and the civilian-manned Royal Fleet Auxiliary who provide the Royal Navy’s logistical and operational support.
With the British Army, we offer practical assistance and support to the specialist catering unit of the 167 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, and are forging a similar relationship with the RAF’s 3 Mobile Catering Squadron. Both units being responsible for specialist field catering on deployment for as many as 1500 individuals.
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The City Food Lecture
